Course Structure

One learns math primarily by trying to solve problems. This course is designed to provide structure for you as you learn to solve problems, and to test how well you have learned to solve them. This structure is provided in the following ways.

• Exercises: The centerpiece of this course is the list of Exercises found in the table at the following link: (list of exercises). The goal of the course is for you to be able to solve the exercises in this table. These exercises are not to be turned in and are not graded, but you should do as many of them as possible and keep your solutions in a notebook for study. The quizzes and exams will be made up of problems similar to suggested exercises.
• Reading: To succeed in the course, you will need to read the textbook, study the examples in it. Many of the examples are exactly like exercises on your exercise list. And you will need to read the textbook in order to understand how to do your Presentation Assignments
• Office Hours: Come to my office hours for help on your Presentation Assignments and Exercises
• Lectures: In lecture, I will sometimes highlight textbook material that is particularly important, sometimes present material in a manner different from the presentation in the book, and sometimes solve sample problems. We have 36 lectures, totaling 1980 minutes. It is not possible to cover the entire content of the course in 1980 minutes, and the lectures are not meant to do that. Lectures are meant to be a supplement to your reading the textbook and solving problems.
• Tutoring: Free tutoring is available in the Morton Math Tutoring Lab, in the Math Library, Morton 415a. Make use of it!
• Presentation Assignments: Each of you will be called upon to do five Class Presentations during the semester. After the first week of class, you will always receive your assignment at least a week before you have to make your presentation. The presentations will involve you presenting a basic example during lecture. The basic examples are always about new material that we will be covering in class that day. To prepare for these Class Presentations, you will need to read the textbook and study its examples. If you are confused about your Class Presentation Assignment, you are welcome to come to my office hours to discuss it. However, before coming to me for help, you need to be sure and read the book and study its examples, and do some work on the assignment. I will not discuss your assignment with you if you have not studied the book.
• Quizzes and Exams: The quizzes and exams are based on the list of exercises.

page maintained by Mark Barsamian, last updated Aug 21, 2019